Holmes Place Health Club

Water resistant and durable Sto interior finishes used in new health club.

The first Holmes Place health club was opened in 1980 at a converted plumber's merchant off Fulham Road in Chelsea. The company has expanded dramatically, with over 75 clubs across Europe and boasting a membership of 230,000.

Whether frequented for relaxation or exercise, the pool area in a health club is an important feature. It should stimulate feelings of wellbeing, but all too often the design is clinical and the strong odour of chlorine hangs in the air, combining to dull the effect of relaxation.

At the new 42,000 sq ft Holmes Place development in the centre of Wokingham, ozone (O³) is used as the decontamination element rather than chlorine. The oxidising agent works thousands of times faster than chlorine or bromine, while the atmosphere remains easier on the senses.

With the walls receiving a constant soaking and the surrounding environment heavy in moisture, it was essential that the material used should be water resistant while still providing an aesthetically pleasing finish. London based ORMS have a great deal of experience working with Holmes Place throughout Europe, including the flagship sites in Vienna and Berlin for which the practice received a Design Week commendation. Robert Timms of ORMS picks up the story:

"We had no hesitation in specifying StoDécor Flex. It is the only plaster product that can be used in close proximity to water, and it has proved extremely effective on previous projects. The StoDécor interior plaster systems are completely water-resistant, yet their permeability still allows the wall to breathe."

StoDécor Flex is an interior plaster system that can be applied to carrier boards or existing levelled substrates. Applied on to StoVerotec recycled glass carrier boards, the system provides exceptional crack resistance – up to 15 times more than conventional plasters.

At Holmes Place, the system is finished with StoDecolit MP acrylic, through-coloured plaster in shades of burgundy, white and cream. The colours complement the stainless steel pool and their warm subtlety is enhanced by the constantly changing light created by reflections from the water. Over 400 m² of plastered areas extend from the pool area through to the changing rooms. For additional protection, the entire surface was finished with two coats of the VOC-free and scrubbable latex paint, StoColor Latex 3000.

Paul Brown of Regency Plastering, who were responsible for the application, said; "We have worked with Sto and their products on a number of occasions, so we had no hesitation in applying the StoDécor Flex system for the first time at the Holmes Place Leisure centre in Wokingham. The excellent results speak for themselves."